Information Related to "An Overview of Conditions Around the World - Jul/Aug 1998"
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An Overview of Conditions Around the World
Drug addiction: An enormous global industry
According to a recent UN report, the illegal-drug industry generates $400 billion
to $1 trillion in revenues and accounts for 8 percent of global tradeņan industry
larger than sales of iron or steel and almost as great as oil and gasoline or textiles.
Cocaine accounts for some $130 billion of the drug trade, followed by $110 billion
for heroin, $75 billion for marijuana and hashish and more than $60 billion for synthetic
drugs.
The amount spent on illegal drugs is roughly double that spent on legal pharmaceuticals,
which account for $233 billion annually, according to the report. Drug users spend
more for deadly addictive drugs than they do for legal medicinal drugs, cars or clothing.
Drug abuse exacts an enormous financial toll on American society, costing an average
of $300 per person annually in added medical costs, criminal activity and declines
in productivity. On average, health costs for a drug abuser are about 80 percent
higher than for others of the same age.
The United States has an estimated 12.8 million drug abusers, equaling 6.1 percent
of the population.
In spite of some reports of slowing drug usage, the reports stated that global production
of coca leaf and opium have roughly tripled in the past 10 years, and global marijuana
output has increased 50 percent. (Source: Gannett News Service.)
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